SkyWorld City Prologue

[Marie Sarah]

Prologue:
Annie’s body shivered as he entered the cumulonimbus cloud to present himself to the queen. While he was no sorcerer himself he believed it had to be magic forcing his feet forward, otherwise he didn’t believe he could be brave enough to do so. Every atom within his body told him to stop; he should run away. With all the rumors hovering around about their corrupt democracy, Annie couldn’t help but question his loyalties to the queen.

Once he entered the cloud, he was immediately presented with the door to the queen’s enormous castle which engulfed itself in thick wild vines. The doors unlatched, by the two guards cuing the gatekeeper. As the doors slowly creaked open Annie faced the black abyss before him.

Taking a step forward Annie was met with terror. His body froze, the veins around his heart seemed to tighten, and it felt like a rock had to be blocking his accessibility to breath.

It frightened Annie that he never was sure how he was physically capable to stand in that room. There was no visual essence of a floor but his feet always found a place to rest. The room reflected the likeness of the night sky; it was the darkest black but glistened with stars and there seemed to be no end. There weren’t even four corners to define it as a room. No, it was a black abyss.

His fear was enlivened as the low rumble of the queen’s growl trembled the invisible floor he stood. He felt her warm breath brush over him and heard her heavy inhale a few feet away but her dark form was camouflaged against the shadow barring his ability to see her.

“Annie,” she sighed in a heavy, yet feminine tone. If he didn’t know he were in trouble, he could have assumed she was glad to see him.

“Yes, your majesty,” He bowed as low as his back would allow him to arch.

“What is this I hear of a rebellion?” She asked, her words playing off her tongue at a smooth sensual pace.

Annie’s heart began to pound against his ribs. It was his first instinct to lie, tell her he didn’t know but he knew that would be futile and dangerous. If he told her everything and was honest maybe, just maybe, she would spare him.

“My lady,” He barely managed to get the words out from his shivering body, “people are beginning to believe you have joined forces with our enemies and, therefor, have banded together a group to overthrow you and establish Ranar as king.”

The ground shook as she roared in fury. “Is that so?” She growled madly setting her enormous talons before Annie. Her long shiny scales on her neck circled around him and her head appeared by his body. Her large dark eyes blinked revealing violet eyelids against the rest of her black body. “And what of you, my dear Annie? What do you believe?”

Annie gasped anxiously for air as he stood terrified in the presence of the dragon queen. “I - I have heard rumors, your majesty…” he stuttered, “That you did in fact ally with our enemies.”

“So you believe it then?” She reared her head up slowly above him. “How unfortunate, I always liked you, Annie.”

Annie’s whole body froze with realization. “Wait, is it true then?” He dare asked.

“Yes, human, it is very true.”

Before he had a moment to comprehend what she said, he found himself falling to what end he didn’t know.

Chapter 1

Lois waved the people back with the long circles he made with his arms. “Back up, back up,” He said absentmindedly as the people gawked mystified by the dead body on the ground. No one knew how the body could have landed there. There were no tall ledges he could have fallen from to have damaged his body to this extent- much less kill him. Though Lois was focused on his current task the back of his mind couldn’t help but play out the scenarios to answer how this man died.

He vaguely recognized the man as Annie Ekpi, the queen’s right hand man. He couldn’t imagine how angry she would be to hear her servant had been mysteriously killed which scared the town’s folk. Nobody liked an angry dragon.

As the people pressed forward to see more Lois drew his sword. “Okay, that’s enough! Back off!” He yelled. The people coward and withdrew avoiding the tip of his sharp weapon.
The commanding officer glanced disapprovingly at Lois. “A bit too bold, Lois.” He stated flatly.

Sighing softly, Lois replied. “Sorry sir.” Sheathing his sword he resumed using his arm as the force to hold the people back. After he drawn the sword, however, none of them appeared too eager to press on anymore. This pleased Lois.

As the body was swept up and taken by a few other knights the crowds slowly began to subside until there were possibly one two or three people remaining.
Just as Lois turned around from his post, eager to go back to the barracks and receive a proper breakfast he felt a hand grasp his upper arm and clutch tightly. Though he tried to pull away there was something stopping him. Magic. A warm breath pressed against his ear and Lois quietly listened as a voice whispered, “Don’t trust them…You can’t trust any of them.”
As quickly as he had come, the mysterious person was gone. Lois stood frozen wondering what had just happened. His eyes locked on another knight who leaned over the pool of blood where Annie’s body had been found.

Possibly sensing Lois’s gaze the knight looked up curiously. Lois spun around before he was caught and sped away at a quick pace but tried not to appear suspicious.

Lois rubbed the back of his neck, confused and a little bit scared. Having every reason to believe he had just encountered a wizard sent chills down his spine. Everyone knew they should avoid wizards, being the mysterious and dangerous hermits they were. While scarce, they were rumored to be nearly as powerful as dragons and have knowledge of the future. It scared Lois to imagine that a sorcerer might have foresight into his own becomings.

Lois took a deep breath, calming himself. It was a one time encounter. For all he knew, he could have been stopped by an old crazy man. Reassuring himself that this had to be the case he was able to continue on his way with ease at heart.

As Lois continued toward the barracks he paused while he passed the empty plot of grass where people often held banquets or market feasts.

Sitting on the grass with her legs curled beneath her and a book resting on her lap, Sylvia Western leaned against an oak tree.

Since he was five he had the biggest crush on her. The first time his eyes locked on her light brown hair and brown eyes he wanted to claim her for his own. She was the daughter of the town scribe which explained her passion for books and ancient writings.

Lois took a deep breath and headed toward her. “Hi, Sylvia,” he said smiling softly. “How are you?”

“Hungry,” She stated blandly.

“Well, just don’t eat me,” Immediately after the words left his mouth he wished he could snatch them back and stuff them down his throat.

Sylvia glanced up at him with a criticizing but amused grin. “What?” She laughed.

Lois laughed awkwardly, “I honestly don’t know. That was the worst joke I have ever made.”

“Yeah it sort of was,” Her laugh trailed off and her gaze returned to the book in her hand.

Lois cleared his throat and glanced away. He had known her for fourteen years but still their conversation hardly moved past five or six sentences. Patting his leg Lois stated, “Well, I best be taking my leave. Good morning, Sylvia.” He bowed his head slightly and walked away once she looked up from her book and showed a small distracted smile.

“Bye Lew,” She said.

For some time now, Lois wasn’t sure how long, Sylvia had called him Lew. He was never confident enough to find out whether or not she actually thought that could be his real name or if it was a pet name she had given him.

As he walked to the barracks he paused at a few shops and markets greeting old family friends he had known for awhile. A few of them were kind enough to send him away with food, stating that the barracks didn’t feed him enough and thought he was too thin.

It was true, Lois was rather skinny. While he was toned and muscular he had a thin frame. His sandy blond hair and blue eyes were often the target for tease by his fellow knights but it didn’t phase Lois. He knew that his hair and eyes really weren’t that familiar among dark haired and brown eyed people. His mother, who also shared these features would tell him it was because he was left by angels. Unfortunately, he believed the fairy tale until it teased out of him at eleven years old.

Since the thought of his mother was fresh in his mind, he decided to drop by for a visit. He reached the small half wooded cottage that he had grown up in and knocked at the door.

A small, frail woman opened the door and smiled widely at the sight of her son. “Lois, what are you doing here?” She asked.

“I was close by,” he said. “I thought I would stop by and leave you a few things.” He placed the basket of things he had been given on her shaky wood table.

His father had died a few years ago, leaving him to tend to his ill mother. However his pay as the lowest class of a knight hardly helped their finances. Any extra food or money he had he always spent on his mother. It had been years since he had his own luxuries. Fortunately, he was a young man of simple taste and hardly ever wished for more.

His mother took his hand and led him to a chair where she insisted he take a seat by the fire. She retrieved a slice of bread and split it between the two.

Sitting down across from him she waited till he took a small nibble of the stale bread then asked, “I heard that Annie has died?”

“Mhm,” Lois nodded slowly his food, “They - we have no idea how…” He was still rather fresh to the knighthood and would often refer to the brotherhood as ‘they’. “It looks like he was dropped from a high heights but he was in an opening of the east marketplace. Even if he was dropped from one of the buildings it wouldn’t have been so messy.”

“Magic?” His mother suggested.
Lois arched an eyebrow and his head wavered, “Maybe, it’s the only answer but who would want to kill Annie? He was such an innocent simple man. Most wizards and sorcerers have a strong vendetta for a kill.”

Wizards were scarce but not so uncommon that an event like this would leave people shocked. It was the who and why behind his death that had many scratching their heads.

“You never know someone as well as you think, Lois.” His mother pointed out, “Not to mention, you really didn’t know Annie. He very well could have had a bounty on his back.”

Lois shrugged, “True, I only spoke to him once but still. Annie seemed like the man who was too nervous to get into trouble.” Lois sighed. “Well either way, he’s dead now and the queen will be looking for a right hand man…”

“Have you thought of… ‘auditioning?’” his mother asked, surprising him.

“No, no of course not. That job has more responsibility that I’m willing to take on plus I couldn’t see you as often.”

She smiled warmly. “And I wouldn’t want that.”

Lois stood up and kissed her on the forehead. “I have to go now, Mother,” He said, “But I promise I’ll be back at soon as possible.”

“Now wait, wait, wait,” She said waving her hand for him to sit back down, “I want to know about you and Sylvia?”

Lois flopped down in the chair again and sighed, “Mom, we’re nothing. I had a silly crush on her when I was little.”

“Uh-huh,” She snorted, “Really, Lois, why don’t you tell her how you feel? You won’t know for sure if she likes you until you try.”

Rubbing his eyes until he saw colorful dots Lois went over the scenarios in his head. Worse came to worse he wouldn’t ever talk to her again - and that wasn’t too much of a sacrifice considering their conversation were already very limited.

“Okay, fine,” He exasperated, “just don’t ask about it if I don’t bring it up. I’ll let you know if things work out.”

“You should bring her flower, girls love flowers, and visit Tulon’s bakery! He has delicious pastries that no reasonable woman can resist…” His mother continued at this pace until they reached the door.

“Yes, yes, mother,” Lois unhearingly replied as he walked away, “I will do all those things. I love you, mother!”
He waved at her as she returned the phrase of love.

Was he being crazy? Was he really about to confess his feelings to Sylvia? He felt that they should have a deeper bond before he laid out his heart but after fourteen years now but that didn’t seem to encourage a deeper relationship.

Lois decided to abandon the flowers and pastries. He thought it was too formal for such an event. If she returned the feelings, he could take her out and then considers the more romantic gesture of flowers.

Her home was not too far away and he arrived promptly within ten minutes. It was very possible she was still at the opening but Lois decided to try his luck at her home.

His heart knotted into a thousand ties of anxiety and his stomach was hardly in a better condition. Lois wasn’t a courageous man. While he was a knight he never fought any battles or won the heart of a damsel like most the other soldiers in his platoon. He somehow brought his feet right up to the door that he knocked on with a flimsy fist which seemed too frightened and reluctant to clamp shut.

The door swung open and Lois was shocked to see a weeping Sylvia staring at him. Lois gently pushed the door open and Sylvia allowed him to enter.

“Sylvia, what’s wrong?” He asked worriedly.

“My sister,” She said through choked sobs, “She was in the fields and was captured by bandits. My father reported it but the Queen said it wasn’t a worthy enough venture and none of the town’s people are willing to go up against the bandits.” Her eyes suddenly lit up and she looked pleadingly into Lois’s eyes and grabbed onto his forearms. “Lew, please, I beg you, go after her.”

All of his anxiety had been immediately washed away when he saw Sylvia crying but they came flowing back when she requested that he face the bandits. “Me? Sylvia, I can’t…” He hesitated when he saw the fear in her eyes and knew that if this truly was a woman he loved, he would be willing to risk everything. “...deny you this request. I will leave right away,” he said forcefully.

I’m going to die. He thought immediately but forced an assured smile for the woman clutching his arms.

Relief slowly ran over her though not completely and she nodded. “Thank you… I’ll be right with you, let me get my sword.”

“Of course,” He said before completely comprehending what she had said. “Wait, what? No you can’t come with me.”

“Why not?” She demanded spinning around with an angry offended glare.

“You’re a woman,” He said gesturing with his hand up and down to her figure. He honestly didn’t care or think it made a difference that she was a woman, but he felt the necessity to protect her and really wasn’t sure if he was even going to make it back.

“And you’re a man. Now are we done stating facts?” Her skirt whirled as she retrieved a sword hanging above the fireplace.
Lois pursed his lips in frustration. He didn’t know if he could even protect himself, much less another person. “You’re not coming, Sylvia. Now we’re done.”

“Lois!” She shouted slamming her hand against the wall making Lois jump slightly, “So help me, Almighty… I am coming. It is my sister, I know how to fight, and let’s face it - one knight against fifteen bandits is hardly a fair fight. Now I need you to help me, I can’t do this alone. But as a knight and a man with half a gallon of dignity and respect I believe you to have you will go upon my request to save my brother and won’t stop just because a woman is accompanying you.”

Fifteen bandits. The number raced through his mind. He assumed originally there were maybe four or five but fifteen? He had himself already knee deep in death before he even landed his step.

“Fine,” He said putting his hand up to cease their quarreling, “but please, just follow my lead as I am the one with experience.”

The stern look that had so ferociously engulfed her normally beautiful features disappeared and she nodded.

Lois waited while Sylvia cladded herself in the proper armor and they departed immediately. As they strutted down the streets with a few curious eyes, Lois reflected on their lengthened conversation. She knows my name. He realized. He stifled the smile that wanted to curl his lips and replaced it with a more serious and engaged expression.